Homeless?

We originally planned to live in the living quarters of our new barn while our house is being built because the barn will only take 3 weeks to complete. However, due to literally every title company within an hour of here (including NE OK and NWA) being 4-6 weeks out on completing abstracts/closing on properties even for all cash buyers such as us we’ve unexpectedly had a delay in being able to start the barn/house build. It’s also rained heavily for a week in our area so that would have postponed foundation work anyways. Prior to this we had planned on staying with family for 2 weeks while the barn was being built because we expected to close on the new land the same day that we closed on the house and a separate parcel of land that we owned which would have given us a week to live in our old house then 2 weeks to kick it with family between living in our old house and moving into the barn. This delay in title company turn arounds has changed several things for us though. We have decided just to move into one of our rental properties while the new house is being built. The tenets are due to move out of it next week so it just makes the most sense to settle into there for the next 4-5 months since there’s a 3 week hold up on starting the barn. We are repainting the whole rent house and putting in all new flooring but that will only take a few days so we should be able to move into it within the next 10 days. I’m excited to decorate it for Christmas and to get all of my homey decor up. It’s a cute little house that Brian and his papa built totally themselves a few years ago so living there will be special. We are under contract to buy land from a long term family friend of my parent’s and my late papa (my papa worked cattle on the land that we are building on 😭😍) so we tossed around starting the barn before we close since we trust the seller that much but ultimately decided that we aren’t in a rush. I think that my husband was partial to living in the house that he built with his papa, to be honest which is precious and fine by me. I’m just along for the ride and enjoying this journey full heartedly. It’s been neat to have this time close to our parents while we stay with them. If I’ve learned anything in life it’s that time flies by and we aren’t promised tomorrow. Cherish those moments and opportunities with your loved ones. Make the best of it. 

I, of course can not waittttttt to start seeing our new ranch go up but I also promised myself to take everything minute by minute and to enjoy the process. Taking my time to make decisions on things, big and small. From where I want plumbing extras for things like pot fillers and dog wash areas to what light fixtures and hardware that I want to paint colors and window placements to secret pantry rooms and a storm shelter bunker in the closest. All of it will be overly thought out and considered. The little 3 week delay from when we originally should have been starting things isn’t ideal but it’s also given us new opportunities to over think things and to live in special places with the ones that we hold dearest. I can’t imagine a life without our families this near to us. Family is truly our everything. It’s our source of our greatest happinesses. Nothing touches it or beats it. If you don’t have this kind of undying love and closeness with your parents and grandparents, my heart hurts for you. And if your chose to throw it away when you have loved ones who would die in a second for you — you are a miserable human being. You will never, ever go wrong with being near your loving and genuine family. Fancy things, materialistic things, and even spouses-friendships will pass you by but a family that loves you is the greatest thing if all.  I can’t tell you how deeply we’ve considered moving to Colorado. I mean, no bull shit - real deal considered it. Justified to ourselves being ‘a plane ride away’ from our loved ones or having a never ending ‘family always welcome to vacation here policy’. But ultimately our hearts couldn’t do it. Not full time. Not weeks, hell even days, without being with them. Brian sees his parents every single day and has all of his life with the exception of when we are on holidays. I see my parents weekly at the very least. We couldn’t live without that consistent interaction but honestly, we wouldn’t WANT to. I wish that all of my family members realized the value of the lives that they are neglecting. Their loss, for sure. 

Moral of the story is simple, plans can go astray but it’s in your control to make the best of it and if you have the opportunity to stay close to important people, don’t be an idiot and throw that away. One day those people will be gone and the regret that you’ll feel could very well ruin your life!